Gas-lighting apparatus.



R. M. DIXON. GAS LIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1900.

926,474. Patented June 29, 1909.

WITNESSES.

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UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFTQE.

ROBERT Mv DIXON, Oi EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SAFIQ'lY()Alt HEAT- ING & LIGHTING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GAS-LIGHTIN G APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Application filed February 23, 1906. Serial No. 302,425.

1 tain new and useful Improvements in Gas- Lighting Apparatus, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates broadly to improvements in the arrangement andconstruction of a suspended gas-lighting apparatus, and refers moreparticularly to improvements in the features constituting theventilating and suspension means therefor.

This invention proposes, among other objects, a suspending means forapparatus of the class described, whereby the lamps will be rigidly heldin a osition irrespective of the strains resultant from the movements ofthe units of transportation, such as railroad cars.

Another object within the purpose of this invention is an arrangement ofthe gas conducting members, whereby the desired flow of gas may beobtained and, at the same time, a neat and attractive structure beproduced which will eiliciently carry out the desired action.

The invention also contemplates such adaptation of parts that thevitiatcd products of combustion will be properly discharged to theoutside of cars, whereby the air content thereof will not becontaminated.

Other objects and advantages will be in part obvious and in part pointedout hereinafter.

with those and other ends in view, this invention, accordingly, consistsin the features of construction, combinations of parts, and arrangementof elements which will be exemplified in the embodiment thereofhereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will beindicated in the following claims.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood and madecomprehensible to others skilled in its relating arts, drawingsillustrating a convenient manner of carrying out the same are appendedas a part of this specification, and, while the controlling principlesof the invention may be otherwise applied by modifications fallingwithin the scope of the claims, the hereindescribed embodiable to employin practice, and is regarded as representing substantial improvementsover the many implied and obvious variations of the same.

In the accompanying drawing, which exemplifies the essentialcharacteristics of the invention, the parts thereof are shown insectional elevation and assembled for actual use, and in such drawing,like numerals denote corresponding features.

As tending to render better understood certain prominent advantagesobtained as a result of this invention, it may be preliminarily pointedout that a steady ventilation is rendered difficult in railroad serviceon account of the exterior excessive air-currents resulting from therapid motion of the train. Such motion, furthermore, causes aconsiderable swaying and vibration in the cars, which undesirablemovement tends to work loose the parts of the lamp, particularly whenthe same is suspended at a distance from the ceiling of the cars.Furtlwrmore, as the complete lamp structure should possess an attractiveappearance and embody an artistic design in agreement with commercial(lictates, it is essential that the actual structure should not onlyconform to such requirements, but should also be one in which the partsgoing to make up the same may be readily assembled to form a rigidarrangement in which all of the parts will maintain a permanentrelationship under the ordinary strains imposed in railroad service.

In the practical adaptation of this invention, as employed in suspendinga cluster of lamps, it will ordinarily be preferable to cmploy aplurality of suspending arms which converge from a wide ceiling base tothe lamp body carried at their lower extremities. Such an arrangement isshown on the drawings exemplifying this invention, from which it willappear that one of the arms 1 may also constitute a suitable conduit forthe gas used in maintaining the illumination of the lamps. Such arm maybe screw-threaded or otherwise fixed to a perforate part 2, which may beseated against a ceiling through the base 3. Vertically rising from saidmember and in fluid-tight connection therewith, is a short pipe-section4 which, at its upper end, is similarly joined to a supply pipe 5 andcarries an adjustable nut 6 which is adapted to be brought against ament is that which will ordinarily be preferl bearing-plate 7 andthereby maintain the member 2 against the car ceiling with the requisitefirmness. The other supporting members may be similarly secured to theceiling, as exemplified by the analogous construction to the left of thedrawing. At their lower ends, the aforesaid arms take into a centercasting 8, and, in connection with the conduit support 1, an interposednipple 9 may be employed for conveniently securing the desired tightnessand fit of the joints. Such center casting provides acentral gas-chamber10, which opens at its lower end into a series of radiating gas tubes11, which at their outer ends, carry any preferred type of lamp 12,although, in this connection, that shown by the drawings possesses manyeminent advantages and will ordinarily be employed. Such lamp is nothere specifically claimed, as the essential features thereof havealready been disclosed and claimed in other applications.

It will be understood that a considerable strain is had at the unionwith the center casting of the supporting arms and gas tubes, and torelieve such part of undue stresses, certain adjustable brace-membersare provided and may now be described. To this end, a casing 13 providesperipheral apertures through which the gas tubes project in aclose-fitting relation. It will be readily understood that such casingmay consist of one or more parts, which, if so desired, may be separablewithin the plane of the gas tubes, so as to embrace the same fromopposite sides, and, furthermore, that an additional adjustable meansfor insuring a tight fit may be resorted to. Thus, a shield '14 may beutilized in this connection by providing a properly shaped inner end 15for conforming to the peripheral apertures in the casing. It will now beapparent that, by restricting the vertical movement of the casing 13,the aforesaid strains may be en.- tirely removed from the mentionedjoints. Preferably, this will be accomplished through means adjustablyabutting the upper and lower ends of such casing and, to this end, anend-piece 1 is adjustable vertically toward and away from the centercasting through a center link 16 having its ends in screw-threadedrelation with the respective parts. A locking-ring 17 may also beinterposed between the parts 13 and in order to prevent any undesirablerotary motion therebetween. The upward movement of part 13 may similarlybe resisted through the medium of a crown 18 secured to the centercasting through an adjustable link 19. Such crown 18 may extend directlyinto abutment with the casing 13 or an annular member 20 maybeinterposed and provided with apertures through which the arms may takeinto the center casting. If desired, such annular member may also havean interlocking union with casing 13 so as to restrict the parts againstundue relative ro-' tation. It will be readily appreciated that thisarrangement, while of the utmost sim-' plicity consonant with thestructural requirements, is well adapted for preserving the relationshipof the parts even in the presence of considerable strains. Furthermore,the arrangement is one capable of ready adjustment and suitable forproperly distributing the stresses along desired parts.

In practice, the structure will ordinarily be so suspended that thedischarge ends of the lamps will be equidistant from the ventilatoropening 21, which may be surmounted by any suitable ventilator, such asthat shown on the drawing and designated by 22. To supplement the actionof such ventilator, a bell 23 is provided and, preferably, the samecomprises a perforate dome-shaped portion 24 terminating in its rise ina discharge opening 25. A distributive plate 26 of substantially equaldimensions with said opening is suspended by means of straps 27 at aslight distance therebelow. In its preferred construction, such bellalso provides a lateral rim 28, which is spaced a distance from the carceiling to which it is affixed by means of suitable screws 29, so thatthe more highly heated portions of the bell will-not contact with thecar ceiling. This arrangement provides a highly satisfactory device forreceiv ing and properly discharging the products of combustion as theyescape from the underlying lamps.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a gas lighting apparatus, a central supporting member having achannel therethrough, a plurality of gas conduits radiating from saidmember and in communication with the channel thereof, a casing in fixedre lation with said conduits, and means adjustable from opposite ends ofsaid member and adapted to determine the vertical position of saidcasing with respect to said member.

2. In a gas lighting apparatus, a member, a plurality of supporting armsradiating from one end thereof, a casing interfitting with said arms andadapted to determine the angularity thereof relatively to said member,and an adjustable means carried by each end of said member and adaptedto abut corre sponding ends of said casing to fix the vertical positionthereof.

3. In a gas lighting apparatus, a central vertical supporting conduit,gas tubes radiating therefrom, a casing having perforations throughwhich said tubes protrude and within which they closely fit, wherebysaid tubes and easing will be relatively fixed, and an adjustable meanscarried by opposite ends of said member and adapted to abutcorresponding ends of said casing to adjustably determine the verticalposition thereof.

4. In illuminating apparatus, a central supporting member, supportingarms laterally extending therefrom, a casing closely interfitting withsaid arms at a distance from said supporting member, and means co-actingrespectively with corresponding ends of said casing and supportingmember and adapted to be adjusted to'determine the angular relationbetween said latter parts.

5. In illuminating apparatus, a central supporting member, supportingarms radiating therefrom, a casing closely inter-fitting the said armsat a distance from said member, said casing being movable longitudinallyof said member, and an adjustable abutment at each end of said memberand adapted to co-act with said casing to determine the ver ticalrelation of the same with said member.

6. In illuminating apparatus, a vertical, central supporting member,equidistant arms radiating therefrom, a casing having orifices throughwhich said arms protrude, and within which they closely fit, said casingencircling said member at an intermediate por tion thereof, and meansfor positively vertieally adjusting each end of said casing relative tocorresponding ends of said member.

7. In illuminating apparatus, a central supporting member, a pluralityof supporting arms radiating therefrom, a substantially globe-shapedcasing in fixed relation to said arms at a distance from said member,said casing converging toward said member, an abutment carried by eachend of said member, and adjustable means adapted to actuate saidabutments into contact with said casing to determine the angularrelation of the several parts.

8. In illuminating apparatus, a member, a plurality of supporting armsradiating therefrom, a casing closely inter-fitting with said arms at adistance from said member, said casing encompassing said member, andadjustable means carried by each end of said member and co-acting withcorresponding ends of said casing to determine the longitudinal positionthereof relative to said member.

9. In illuminating apparatus, a central supporting member, armsradiating therefrom, a casing having perforations through which saidarms protrude whereby said parts will be relatively fixed, end piecesabutting said casing and concealing the ends of said member, andadjustable means carried by the opposite ends of said member and inengagement with said end pieces, whereby the latter may be adjusted todetermine the longitudinal position of said casing.

10. In illuminating apparatus, a central supporting member, a pluralityof suspending arms laterally taking into engagement therewith, aplurality of supporting arms radiating from said member, a substantiallyglobe-shaped casing in iixed relation to said latter arms at a distancefrom said member, said casing converging toward said member, an abutmentcarried by each end of said member, and adjustable means adapted to movesaid abutments into contact with said casing to determine the positionof the several parts.

11. In illuminating apparatus, a vertical central supporting member,suspending arms radiating from one end thereof, supporting armsradiating from the other end thereof, a casing having orifices throughwhich said supporting arms protrude, said casing having an orifice whoseedges encircle said member intermediate the ends thereof, and means forpositively adjusting each end of said casing relatively to correspondingparts of said member.

12. In illuminating apparatus, a central supporting member, suspendingarms radiating laterally from one end thereof, supporting arms similarlyradiating from the other end thereof, a casing interfitting said arms ata distance from said member, said casing being movable longitudinally ofsaid member, and an adjustable abutment at each end of said member andadapted to 00- act with said casing to determine the relation of thesame with said member.

13. In illuminating apparatus, a vertical, central supporting conduit,suspending arms laterally radiating from adjacent the upper end thereof,one of said arms constituting a supply pipe for said central conduit,tubes laterally radiating from adjacent the lower end of said conduitand adapted to serve as supporting arms for a cluster of lamps, a casinghaving perforations at a distance from said conduit through which saidtubes protrude whereby they are relatively fixed, end pieces abuttingsaid casing and concealing the ends of said conduit, and adjustablemeans carried by the opposite ends of said conduit and in engagementwith said end pieces, whereby the latter may be longitudinallytranslated to determine the position of said casing.

14. In illuminating apparatus, a ventilator comprising a dished topplate, an annular deflector secured to the periphery of said top plate,a cylindrical chimney, means connecting said chimney and annulardeflector, and a conical screen extending from the top of said chimneyto the under side of said top plate.

15. In illuminating apparatus, a horizontal top plate, an annulardeflector circumscribing the periphery of said top plate, an uprightescape conduit leading toward said top plate, and a screen interposedbetween the upper edge of said conduit and the underlying face of saidtop plate, whereby escaping gases will pass through said screen prior tobeing discharged.

16. In illuminating apparatus, a lamp, and

&

a ventilator overlying said lamp and comprising a perforate, dome-shapeddeflecting member having an enlarged escape vent in the rise thereof anda deflecting plate interposed between said lamp and said vent.

17. In illuminating apparatus, a lamp, a ventilator overlying the same,said ventilator comprising a dome-shaped member having an enlargedescape vent in the rise thereof and having a plurality of openingsarranged in its body portion, said member providing a peripheral flange,and means for spacing said flange at a distance from the adjacentportions of the ventilator.

18. In illuminating apparatus, a ceiling having an opening therethrough,a ventilating device Within said opening, said device consisting of aperforate, dome-shaped portion having an enlarged escape vent in therise thereof, a baffle-plate of substantially coextensive areapositioned at a distance below said opening, said dome-shaped portionhaving an annular flange extending from the base thereof and positionedat a distance from said ceiling, and a lamp underlying said ventilatingdevice.

19. In illuminating apparatus, a ceiling having a suitable openingtherethrough, a ventilating means co-acting therewith and comprising alower, dome-shaped member having an escape vent in the rise thereof, adeflecting plate carried by straps and positioned a distance below saidopening, said member being perforated in its body portion and providingan annular flange extending from its lower periphery and having anupturned border, whereby said flange may be positioned at a distancefrom said ceiling, and a lamp underlying said ventilator.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,

in the presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT M. DIXON.

Witnesses:

G. R. JEWETT, E. E. ALLBEE.

